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No. 886,250. PATENTED APR. 28, 1908. H. P. ROBERTS.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1904.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED APR. .28, 1908.

H. P. ROBERTS.

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.APPLIOATION 211.111) MAY 20, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HIRAM PARSONS ROBERTS, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

Application filed May 20, 1904. Serial No. 208,826.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HIRAM P. RoBERTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to improvements in boxes for the transportation of merchandise, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete box; Fig. 2 a vertical longitudinal sec tional view thereof; Fig. 3 a perspective view showing the lid or closure elevated and the end strip removed, the latter also being shown in perspective; Figs. 4 and 5 sectional views, showing a slightly modified form of the invention; and Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view of a modified construction showing the lid or closure formed in two pieces.

In the transportation of merchandise, and particularly such classes, for instance, as spirituous liquors, the temptation to abstract the contents of the package sometimes reaches the stage of an irresistible impulse, and the package is broken into and portions of its contents abstracted, with the view of home consumption or sale. ith boxes as at present constructed and used, the removal and replacement of the lid, bottom or side is a relatively easy matter. The lid or bottom, for instance, being usually secured by nails, can be readily removed and replaced, leaving no indication that the box has been opened in transit.

The object of the present invention is to produce a strong and simple box, the component parts of which cannot be removed without so mutilating or destroying the structure that it will clearly show it has been tampered with.

A box constructed in accordance with my invention is comparatively cheap to manufacture, while at the same time it is somewhat stronger than those now ordinarily used for the same purpose.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, A designates the sides of the box, and B B the ends thereof, these parts being locked-j ointed and glued together at the corners. The bottom C is provided with a tongue at each end which projects into grooves formed in the lower portions of the ends B B, the bottom being secured in place as the sides and ends are assembled, and glued if desired and also nailed in position. The locked-joints of the corners and the interlocking of the bottom with the ends will prevent these parts from being separated Without so marring the box as to clearly indicate that it has been tarnpered with in transit.

The height of the end B is less than that of the completed box or package, said end being provided with a groove or channel D in its upper edge.

A filling-strip E is employed to fill out the height of the end B, said strip being provided with a tongue or rib F upon its under edge and with a groove or channel G in its side face near the upper end thereof. The end B is likewise provided with a groove or channel G, designed to receive a tongue or rib H, on one end of the lid or closure I, there being a corresponding rib H formed upon the opposite end of said lid, which rib passes into the groove G when the parts are assembled.

In applying the closure, after the goods have been placed in the box, the tongue F is dipped in glue and placed in the groove or channel D one tongue H is then passed into the groove or channel GK, the closure being in the position indicated in Fig. 3, after which the opposite rib H is brought into alinement with the groove or channel G. The filling-strip is then swung up into vertical position and the sides of the box nailed to said strip and also to the closure if so desired.

The tongues or ribs H may likewise be glued, if preferred, and nails driven through the filling-strip E, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.2, to bring the glue into close contact with the tongue of the filling-strip and the groove in the end of the box.

With this construction it will be seen that it is impossible to open the box without first withdrawing the nails, if such be used, and breaking the glued joints, as if good glue be employed, the wood inmost instances will break or sliver, clearly indicating that the box has been tampered with, and the consignee may, if such condition exist, refuse to receive the box from the carrier.

In Figs. 4, 5 and 6 a slightly modified form of construction is shown. In this case, the filling-strip J is provided with a rib upon its under face, similar to the tongue F heretofore described. It is likewise provided with a groove or channel K, to receive the rib or projection L of the lid or closure. The upper portion of the filling-strip is, however, cut away slightly so that a shoulder or projection M is formed which facilitates the assem bling of the parts in that it provides a fair bearing for the rib L before the filling-piece is swung inwardly or to its upright position. The opposite end of the box may also be constructed in this manner, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is not essential, of course, that the closure be formed of one piece of material, as indicated in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, since it may be made up of a series of strips tongueand-grooved together, as shown in Fig. 6.

The terms ends and sides are used herein simply in a relative sense, and the specification and claims are to be so read and interpreted.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination with the sides, ends and bottom of a box secured together in such manner as to produce a substantially unyielding structure and to preclude their separation without showing that such parts have been tampered with, one end of the box being of a height less than that of the remainder; a lid or closure for said box, said lid making'an interlocking joint with that end of the box which is of'full height; and a filling-strip making an interlocking joint with the short end of the box and with the lid or closure, substantially as described.

2. A substantially unyielding rectangular box having one low end; a closure making an interlocking connection with the opposite end of the box; and a filling member forming an interlocking connection with the low end, and the adjacent end of the closure.

3. In combination with a box having one low end; a closure having tongues or ribs on its ends, one tongue entering a corresponding groove in the high end of the box; a filling member having a tongueor rib upon its under edge adapted and designed to pass into a groove in the upper edge of the low end, and likewise provided with a groove in its side face to receive the adjacent tongue of the closure; and means for securing the parts in place, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a box having one low end with a groove or channel formed in its upper edge; a closure having tongues at its opposite ends, one tongue entering a groove formed in the face of the high end of the box; and a filling member having a tongue or rib upon its under face fitting into the groove in the low end, and likewise provided with a groove in its side face to receive the adjacent tongue of the closure, the filling member being glued to the end, and the sides of the box being nailed to the filling member, substantially as described.

5. A box comprising sides and ends lockedjointed and glued together at the corners, one end being of a height less than the other and having a groove formed in its upper face; a bottom having ribs or tongues which pass into grooves formed in the adjacent ends of the box; a closure having tongues formed upon its opposite ends, one of said tongues passing into a groove formed in the inner face of the high end of the box; and a filling member having a tongue which enters the groove in the low end, and likewise formed with. a

groove which receives the adjacent tongue of the closure; the fllling member and the end being glued together, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A box comprising sides and ends lockedjointed and glued together at their corners, one end being of a height less than the other and having a groove formed in its upper edge; a bottom having ribs or tongues WhlCh' pass into grooves formed in the adjacent ends of the box; a closure having tongues formed. upon its opposite ends, one of said tongues passing into a groove formed in the inner face of the high end, said end having a shoulder formed thereon at the lower side of the groove; and a filling member having a tongue upon its lower edge, which tongue passes into the groove in the low end, said member being also provided with a groove in its side face with a shoulder adjacent thereto, the shoulder forming a support for the tongue of the closure as the parts are put in position preparatory to introducing the tongue into the groove.

7. In combination with a box having one low end, said end having a groove in its upper edge; a closure having tongues formed upon its opposite ends, one tongue passing into a groove formed in the inner face of the high end of the box; a filling member having a tongue upon its lower face which passes into the groove in the low end, and likewise provided with a groove for the reception of the tongue of the closure and with a shoulder in line with the lower face of the groove, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HIRAM PARSONS ROBERTS.

Witnesses:

CHAS. O. MENGEL, G. A. HEWETT. 

